Pine Grove's Maddie Frew made her first appearance at the PIAA Track and Field Championships this past weekend at Shippensburg University. The Cardinals' freshman didn't earn any earn any medals, but she hardly came home empty handed.
Indeed, Frew accomplished somewhat of a rare feat, at least for an athlete from the Schuylkill League. She qualified for states in four events in Class AA and competed in all of them.
Frew took part in the preliminaries of the 100 hurdles, and 400 and 1,600 relays with seniors Jess Fath and Kelli Readinger and freshman McKayla Lally on Friday. Frew then competed in the triple jump Saturday morning.
Competing in four events at the state meet is nothing new. Neither is earning four medals.
In fact, it happened this weekend for an athlete from District 11 after Palmerton's Austin Shupp won the Class AA boys' 100 hurdles, took second in the 300 hurdles, finished third in the 1,600 relay and fifth in the 400 relay.
Still, for Frew to compete in four events on the same weekend is an accomplishment in itself, especially for a freshman. It is the first time that it has happened in the seven years I have been covering track and field for The Republican-Herald and attending the PIAA Championships.
Frew (17.67 seconds) was sixth in her heat during the 100 preliminaries Friday morning. The Cardinals were seventh in their heat during the 400 relay preliminaries in 52.40 and also seventh in their heat during the 1,600 relay preliminaries in 4:14.31. Frew finished 18th in the triple jump Saturday morning with a best jump of 34 feet, 3 inches.
Was Frew nervous in her first event, the 100 hurdles, Friday morning?
"It was odd," she said. "I was overwhelmed but not nervous, because nervous usually helps me. But I wasn't nervous at all."
Frew didn't put any expectations on herself for the weekend and did all four events for the experience. Still, she was somewhat disappointed she didn't do better when she reflected on the weekend Saturday morning after she finished the triple jump.
"I didn't expect myself to do tremendous," she said. "I just wanted to get out here and get a feel for it.
"It was a good experience. I know for possibly upcoming years I know how things are going to be so that the overwhelmed part of it is not too much and not as strong."
The schedule for the events Frew competed in made the decision to do all four easier. Frew never had to compete in two events at the same time, although that would have happened Saturday morning had Frew reached the semifinals of the 100 hurdles.
The fact that they were sprints and field events helped, too.
In her four years at Pottsville, Paige Stoner has qualified for states in the Class AAA 1,600 and 3,200 four times apiece. But the only year Stoner ran both races was in 2011 when she was a freshman, finishing 10th in both.
The schedule is the main reason Stoner had only competed in the 3,200 the past three years. The 1,600 preliminaries are Friday, while the 3,200 finals are Saturday morning and the 1,600 finals about 3 hours later. If Stoner did both, she would have run four miles over a two-day period, including three Saturday.
"It is so much to focus on," said Stoner after she finished third in the 3,200 on Saturday morning, her third career state medal in the event. "I just feel that if I was to run this, knowing I still had a mile to go, I wouldn't be able to exert all my energy into one race."
Another reason Frew decided to compete in all four events was to take part in the relays, which have become her favorite events. Readinger, who also qualified for states this weekend in the 300 hurdles, has become a mentor to Frew this season.
"The relays are my favorite because of the group of girls I run with," Frew said. "They are the reason I did track and came out for it because I just enjoy being around them. It makes everything we do fun."
Frew was glad she competed in all four events.
"It is enjoyable," Frew said. "Even if you don't place and don't win, the experience, like, the people you are around, you make new friends and you get to have a good experience and have a lot of fun."
Frew was one of five freshmen from the Schuylkill League who competed at states this weekend.
She was joined by Lally, Schuylkill Haven's Tamika Ebling (Class AA girls' 400 relay). Jim Thorpe's Brooke Cope (Class AAA girls' javelin) and Tamaqua's Monika Shimko (Class AA girls' 800). Shimko came the closest to earning a medal after she finished ninth in the finals of her event Saturday afternoon in 2:22.06.
Weekend medal wrap-up
In case you missed it, there were six athletes from the Schuylkill League who earned medals this past weekend.
- Pottsville's A.J. Stevens was second in the Class AAA triple jump.
- As mentioned earlier, Stoner was third in the Class AAA girls' 3,200.
- North Schuylkill's Carter Green was seventh in the Class AA girls' discus, her third career medal in the event.
- Tamaqua's Tyler Hope was sixth in the Class AAA boys' javelin. Hope's medal was the second of his career in the event.
- The Raiders' Morgan Boyle had two eighth-place finishes, in the Class AA girls' pole vault and javelin.
- Mahanoy Area's Larry McNeil finished tied for seventh in the Class AA boys' high jump. He was the Golden Bears' first state medalist since Mike Cadau won the 400, was fourth in the 800 and sixth with Matt Sullivan, Shane Yedsena and Dustin Macieunas in the 1,600 relay in 2006.
Field snaps Nativity's PIAA appearance skid
Emily Field became the first female athlete from Nativity to compete at states since Katie James qualified in the 100 and 200 in 2006.
Field, a senior, competed in the Class AA girls' javelin Saturday morning, finishing 23rd.
Spartans' Hope hangs it up
This weekend's PIAA Championships were the last for North Schuylkill coach Lafay Hope. After 43 coaching the sport, including two stints as head coach, Hope is retiring.
"It is time for me to go," Hope said.
Hope's first stint as head coach started in 1969 when he was a co-coach for one year and then went solo until 2000. Hope remained an assistant until he was asked to return as head coach in 2008 after Frank Niglio retired.
Hope's best season during his current tenure was in 2009 when the North Schuylkill girls won the Division I and overall Schuylkill League titles with a perfect record. The Spartans also shared the Division I boys' title with Blue Mountain and Pottsville in 2011.
"I've enjoyed it," Hope said.
It is not known if Hope's long-time assistants, George Kreisher, Bob Moyer or Tony Chatkiewicz, will be returning next year.
Who broke school records this season?
As I always do in my final notebook of the season, here is a list of school records broken this spring as reported to The Republican-Herald. The records by Stoner - 4:56.90 in the 1,600 and 10:41.96 in the 3,200 - are all-time Schuylkill League records, originally set by her. The old 1,600 record was set last year and the old 3,200 mark in 2012.
Pottsville's A.J. Stevens also set a new all-league record this season in the boys' triple jump at 48 feet, 4.5 inches. The old mark was 47-5.5 set by Tamaqua's Dave Keich in 1983.
Boys
Blue Mountain
Colton Cryts (long jump, 22-6)
Tristan Dickey (400, 49.94)
Jim Thorpe
Jonathan Condly (800, 2:01.24; 3,200, 9:57.97)
Jacob Saxon (1,600, 4:32.70)
Rayan Green (high jump, 6-3; 300 hurdles, 41.05)
Ben Saxon, Jake McGeehan, Jake Saxon, Jonathan Condly (3,200 relay, 8:27.25)
Marian
Sam Tomlin, Dom Mussoline, Nick Sully, Chris Bruno (400 relay, 44.20)
Mike Grega, Dom Mussoline, Matt Karnish, Nico Agosti (1,600 relay, 8:18.72)
Minersville
Ben Hinkel (800, 1:58.76)
Pottsville
A.J. Stevens (triple jump, 48-4.5)
Girls
Blue Mountain
Carissa Lorimer (javelin, 141-3; discus, 122-7)
Aubrey Abel, Caroline Richard, Kayla Tracy, Katie Thompson (3,200 relay, 9:57.6)
Hamburg
Karlie Heistand (400, 1:00.34; 800, 2:18.65)
Kali Hepner (pole vault, 11-0)
Jim Thorpe
Devon Matz (100 hurdles, 16.03; 300 hurdles, 47.41)
Courtney Capper (1,600, 5:28.41)
Brooke Cope (javelin, 124-10)
Colleen Hoffman (pole vault, 9-6)
Marian
Camaryn Wheeler, Emily Pulaski, Maureen Kloap, Grace Boyle (400 relay, 52.65)
Emily Pulaski, Grace Boyle, Christy Digiandomenico, Sierra Volkert (1,600 relay, 4:13.23)
Minersville
Reiley Lonergan (high jump, 4-10; triple jump, 30-7)
Katie Glore (pole vault, 9-0*)
Pine Grove
Maddie Frew (100 hurdles, 16.26; triple jump, 35-8.25)
Jess Fath, Kelli Readinger, McKayla Lally, Maddie Frew (400 relay, 51.78; 1,600 relay, 4:08.73)
Pottsville
Paige Stoner (1,600, 4:56.90; 3,200, 10:41.96)
Alyssa Kondrack (200, 26.2*)
Schuylkill Haven
Jade Wilson, Andrea Slotterback, Tamika Ebling, Kelsey Sisko (400 relay, 51.35)
Tamaqua
Rebecca Minehan and Morgan Boyle (pole vault, 10-6*)
* Tied school record
(Carnahan is the track and field beat reporter for The Republican-Herald)Schuylkill League Track and Field Postseason Honor Roll
(Includes Schuylkill League, District 11 and PIAA Championship meets)
BOYS
100 - Chris Bruno (Marian) 11.43#
200 - Khaaliq Lynch (Jim Thorpe) 23.20#
400 - Tristan Dickey (Blue Mountain) 49.94%
800 - Humza Hnesh (Pottsville) 1:58.73#
1,600 - Jacob Saxon (Jim Thorpe) 4:32.70%
3,200 - Jonathan Condly (Jim Thorpe) 9:57.97%
110 HH - Kris Karlonis (North Schuylkill) 15.64%
300 IH - Jason Wilson (Schuylkill Haven) 40.87%
400 relay - Marian (Sam Tomlin, Dom Mussoline, Nick Sully, Chris Bruno) 44.20%
1,600 relay - Blue Mountain (Cameron Greenawalt, Colin Richards, Noah Rhody, Tristan Dickey) 3:27.82%
3,200 relay - Blue Mountain (Cameron Greenawalt, Noah Rhody, Derek Mosteller, Tristan Dickey) 8:18.64#
High jump - Larry McNeil (Mahanoy Area) 6-4*
Long jump - Colton Cryts (Blue Mountain) 22-6#
Triple jump - A.J. Stevens (Pottsville) 48-4.5%
Shot put - Tyler Cavenas (Mahanoy Area) 50-0%
Discus - Tyler Cavenas (Mahanoy Area) 135-4%
Javelin - Tyler Hope (Tamaqua) 194-11*
Pole vault - Colton Cryts (Blue Mountain) 13-0#
GIRLS
100 - Sarah Lombel (Pottsville) 12.81%
200 - Sarah Lombel (Pottsville) 26.80%
400 - Jess Fath (Pine Grove) 1:01.40%
800 - Monika Shimko (Tamaqua) 2:22.06*
1,600 - Paige Stoner (Pottsville) 4:56.90#
3,200 - Paige Stoner (Pottsville) 10:41.96*
100 H - Maddie Frew (Pine Grove) 16.25%
300 IH - Devon Matz (Jim Thorpe) 47.62%
400 relay - Pottsville (Brianna Lotz, Alyssa Kondrack, Madison Sherakas, Sarah Lombel) 50.87%
1,600 relay - Pine Grove (Jess Fath, Kelli Readinger, Maddie Frew, McKayla Lally) 4:08.73%
3,200 relay - Pottsville (Gabrielle DiRenzo, Gabrielle Evans, Lauren Howell, Paige Stoner) 9:50.27#
High jump - Carly Gregas (North Schuylkill) 5-3%
Long jump - Kelsey Sisko (Schuylkill Haven) 16-7%
Triple jump - Maddie Frew (Pine Grove) 35-8.25%
Shot put - Carter Green (North Schuylkill) 38-0#
Discus - Carter Green (North Schuylkill) 130-1#
Javelin - Paige Demetriades (Tamaqua) 144-1#
Pole vault - Rebecca Minehan (Tamaqua) 10-6# and Morgan Boyle (Tamaqua) 10-6%*
# Schuylkill League Championship
% District 11 Championships
* PIAA Championships